Touchscreen interfaces are becoming an ever more common sight on the gadgets we use and even Windows 7 has touch support as standard. Now that we all accept and use this interface the only thing that remains for manufacturers to do is improve upon it and leading the pack is Stantum Japan.

In the video included above you will see what has to be the most advanced touchscreen interface yet created. It is called the TouchPark, or Slate PC, and adds a whole new layer of sensitivity and interaction to the touchscreen interface. The good news is this isn’t a touchscreen that we may see years down the line as the video demonstration is actually using it with a modified Dell Mini 10 meaning this already works with current technology.

Features include:

Display size of between 2.5″ and 30″

Ten finger multi-touch which works while wearing gloves and with fingernails

So sensitive it can even recognize a paint brush

Response time of under 2 milliseconds

Very low power consumption and near zero watts when in standby mode

Pressure sensitive

Pixel-perfect accuracy screen with no calibration required

Gesture support which takes into account how many fingers you use

As Stantum works in a number of different industries the use of resistive instead of capacitive touchscreens is important giving them more flexibility in the usage scenarios. This also accounts for the inclusion of ten finger multi-touch support which some industries may require.

Stantum is now looking for manufacturers who want to start using the new touchscreen in their products. We have little doubt multiple companies will be very interested.

In case you were wondering Stantum is actively seeking to get the TouchPark into smartphones and netbooks so the liklihood is at some point next year we could see this touchscreen in devices, maybe even the next iPhone?

For me it’s the responsiveness that impresses the most. The iPhone is great as a touchscreen device, but how many times have you ended up tapping the screen multiple times to get it to recognize your input? The TouchPark, based on the evidence of this demonstration, will remove such a problem completely while also giving developers a lot more options for multi-touch and gesture inputs.

Depending on how long Stantum has been demonstrating this display behind closed doors the Apple Tablet may appear using one. That would certainly give Stantum a boost in terms of sales, but also help Apple retain its current pace of releasing new gadgets everyone must have.

Reader Comments

Any refinement of touch screen technology is always welcomed as yet another step toward tablet computers.

I think it is inevitable that tablets will replace many (if not most) desktops and laptops over the next decade or so.

Rob

jqp, I agree to a degree. Typing on a flat, unresponsive surface lacks any and all appeal to me. My biggest qualm with the iPhone is that it has BT built in, but I can’t connect a real keyboard to it. It seems like a no-brainer.

Also, touchscreens need to be able to ignore accidental inputs. This looks great, but when you’re writing notes using your finger or a stylus, you don’t want your palm to leave a trace line of your hand’s path, do you?

Lastly – 10 inputs? You’d only really be able to use that on a bigger screen. How are you going to use all 10 fingers on a smartphone? I have relatively small hands and I can barely get all my fingers on my iPhone screen without covering the entire thing up. I’m of the thought process that features should be developed to fit a need and that needs shouldn’t be created because the feature exists.